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READ MORE: Things to Do at Grandfather Mountain State Park in Banner Elk NC Worley’s Cave, photo via Discover Bristol 3.
#Seven lost caves free#
The state park trails are free to use, but the trek to the caves would require several hours of strenuous hiking from the nearest access point, which is the Profile Parking Area. It’s located near Attic Window Peak, so the quickest way to it is also via the private Grandfather Mountain attraction (which costs $22 for adults and $9 for children), which also includes access to the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. Technically, Indian House Cave isn’t really a cave at all, but rather a shelter beneath a rocky outcrop.īut it is considered an important Native American archeological site, and can be accessed via a detour from the Grandfather Trail. Unfortunately, due to white-nose syndrome threatening bat populations, the cave may be closed to visitors. Indian House Cave is found in Grandfather Mountain State Park, which is home to one of the most iconic summits in the North Carolina mountains. 105 N, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Įntry Fee: Free via State Park, $22 adults and $9 children via Attraction READ MORE: Things to Do at the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area (Near Linville Falls NC) Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain, photo by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett 2. You may also see trout swimming in a spring inside the cave. Visitors in the fall and winter months can expect to see tri-colored bats and little brown bats, which annually take up residence in the cavern. Self-proclaimed as “the only show cavern in North Carolina,” the cave is open to tours all year-round. It was also used as a hide-out for deserters during the Civil War, and you can still see 160-year-old graffiti on the rocks today!
#Seven lost caves full#
The cave is full of stalactites, stalagmites, and other rock formations.
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The limestone caverns were formed in deposits of dolomite at the foot of Humpback Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Linville Caverns has been a tourist attraction in the region since the 1930s, with incremental improvements over the decades. More or less located right between Boone and Asheville (about an hour from each), Linville Caverns is a short detour from the Blue Ridge Parkway near the towns of Linville Falls and Little Switzerland. READ MORE: 20 Best Things to Do in Boone NC (Blue Ridge Parkway MM 291.8) Linville Caverns Flowstone, photo by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett 1. But, make no mistake, there are some beautiful caverns to behold! In short, these North Carolina caves aren’t the only attraction to be found around Boone. It’s also near many of North Carolina’s best snow skiing resorts, and you can hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway for access to Grandfather Mountain State Park, Moses Cone Memorial Park, and the town of Blowing Rock. Located in the North Carolina High Country, Boone has an expansive array of great restaurants, breweries, Christmas Tree Farms and tourist attractions. < span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block width: 0px overflow: hidden line-height: 0 ” class=”mce_SELRES_start”> < /span> Best Caves & Caverns in North Carolina Guide READ MORE: The 10 Hiking Essentials Packing List for the Blue Ridge Mountains Read for our guide to the best caves and caverns in North Carolina, including details on the entry fees and main attractions of each one. They’ll also provide a completely different way to see the state– from below! In other words, from north to south, the best opportunities for caving in North Carolina are less than an hour away from one another. Mount Airy- the small town home of Andy Griffith-is near Tory’s Den in Hanging Rock State Park. And Hendersonville’s Bat Cave is located just a few miles from the iconic Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. Boone is also near Linville Caverns, as well as the caves of Grandfather Mountain. There are several caverns located near Asheville, including the most famous caverns in NC: Linville Caverns. So at least one or two are likely to be near whichever North Carolina mountain town you’re visiting. That being said, the accessible caves in NC are an impressive collection.īetter still, these NC caves are sprinkled throughout the region.
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But only a few of them are open to the public. There are almost 900 caverns and caves in North Carolina, most of which are located in either the mountains of Western North Carolina or the NC piedmont.